The Joc Pederson–Tommy Pham beef keeps getting more amazing.
To recap the events heading into Saturday evening, Pham (Cincinnati Reds outfielder) slapped Pederson (San Francisco Giants outfielder) across the face during batting practice before Friday’s Giants-Reds game, with the drama stemming from a fantasy football league disagreement.
On Friday night, Pederson went into detail about the fantasy football dispute that led up to Pham slapping him.
Joc Pederson’s explanation of the events that led up to Tommy Pham slapping him before tonight’s game.
He does not anticipate playing fantasy football with Tommy Pham again. pic.twitter.com/So4FRS4tJQ
— Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) May 28, 2022
And earlier on Saturday, Pham was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball for the altercation.
Pham also explained his side of the story. The veteran outfielder admitted that he slapped Pederson, adding that Pederson “said some sh*t that [Pham doesn’t] condone,” and that in the league’s group chat, Pederson made “disrespectful” comments about Pham’s former team, the San Diego Padres.
Additionally, Pham — who referred to himself as a “big dog” and “high roller” in Las Vegas — said that there was “too much money on the line” and Pederson “was messing with [Pham’s] money.”
There’s so much to this hard-to-believe, comical situation, but that mostly catches us up to Saturday evening.
Well, after Saturday’s Giants-Reds game in Cincinnati, Pederson even showed the media receipts — and a GIF mocking the Padres — from the fantasy football league’s group text exchange that angered Pham. This is (more) amazing content from the feud:
Joc showed up with receipts of the fantasy football group chat with Tommy Pham, which included a GIF making fun of the Padres last season pic.twitter.com/rCYbFRdwA8
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 29, 2022
Joc Pederson was waiting for us after the game, with receipts from his group text exchange with Tommy Pham. He sent a GIF of three weightlifters with Giants, Dodgers and Padres logos superimposed on them. The Padres guy collapsed under the weight of his dumbbell. (1/)
— Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) May 28, 2022
Pederson read, verbatim, from the group chat, which included 4-5 other Padres.
Pham responded, “Joc I don’t know you well enough to make any jokes like this.”
Pederson wrote back, “It was meant to be all fun and games. No hard feelings. Sorry if you took it that way.”
— Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) May 28, 2022
That was around last September. A few weeks later, Pham dropped out the league. Pederson confirmed “there was a lot of money involved in it.”
About seven months later, Pham slapped Pederson across the face.
— Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) May 28, 2022
Incredible. This whole thing just keeps getting better and better.
Here’s a look at how baseball fans are reacting to the group text exchange:
Joc Pederson being serious while describing how a GIF led to Tommy Pham slapping him is hilarious to me pic.twitter.com/Slwd8R25UC
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) May 29, 2022
Absolutely heroic job by Joc to not break down laughing while explaining this in hushed tones https://t.co/Io4gHD6WyJ
— Bullpen Insider Jeff Everson (@EVR551) May 29, 2022
This may be the only time in recorded history that “sorry if you took it that way” was an appropriate response. https://t.co/KktOot6UkR
— Gabe Lacques (@GabeLacques) May 29, 2022
Don’t think I could like Joc any more than I do. The guy who got slapped here is apologizing. Also big plus for the askew cap and the backpack (or are those suspenders?). Some tasteful pearls would have made this just perfect. https://t.co/KS3HCIynrg
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 29, 2022
We live in the golden age of the meme apology. pic.twitter.com/1qAZ3yj9xG
— Sean Keeley (@SeanKeeleyIsMe) May 29, 2022
[Photo Credit: NBC Sports Bay Area]
